Pre-1994 cops ‘were feared and respected’, some now ‘partakers of corruption and criminality’

The portfolio committee on police has called for more investigations that will lead to prosecutions in cases regarding the attack on Intercape buses.

Golden Arrow general manager Derick Meyer and Intercape representative, advocate Kate Hofmeyr, appeared before the committee on Wednesday to share the extent of the attacks on these buses.

Golden Arrow is contracted to the Western Cape Provincial Department of Mobility and operates in Cape Town. It has 1 110 buses on contract and eight depots.

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Passengers and drivers of the buses have experienced robbery, theft and pickpocketing. In 2020, about 170 of these incidents were recorded, with some criminals posing as passengers and robbing their victims.

Buses have been stoned, petrol-bombed, and set alight — with 99 torched since 2024.

Intercape attacks

Hofmeyr told the committee that since 2022, more than 200 complaints have been lodged with the police detailing attacks on Intercape buses.

In 2022, the Makhanda High Court ordered that the then transport implement an action plan to ensure the safety of long-distance coach drivers and passengers.

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Last year, the same court ordered the Eastern Cape Provincial Police Commissioner and National Police Commissioner to investigate the cases to enable the effective prosecution of each crime individually.

At the time, the complaints of intimidation stood at 165, however, Hofmeyr said on Wednesday that they had climbed to about 200.

Committee member Reverend Kenneth Meshoe called on the police to conduct thorough investigations that will lead to prosecutions.

“It is heartbreaking, depressing and causes one to be left with anger that we have become a lawless country to an extent that even Saps does not take orders from the courts,” said Meshoe.

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“To hear that the government is in contempt of court is worrying indeed. I have to agree that pre-1994, when we saw police vans, we would run away even when we did not commit a crime because there was respect and fear of law enforcement officers.

“Today, in the new democracy, some police have become partakers of corruption and criminality. This committee must take the matter of Intercape very seriously. For us to earn the respect of the public, we need to do something about this matter.”

76 cases reported

Deputy national commissioner for policing Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili told the committee that following the initial court judgment, the NCOP adopted a motion on 22 September 2020 and noted the persistent violent attacks against Intercape.

In September 2022, the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces established a task team comprising the Saps, Metro Police, and Provincial Traffic to attend to the attacks.

“To increase ground coverage in identified hotspots, platforms have been established for provincial offices to engage regularly with long-haul bus operators. This includes meetings to discuss concerns, trends, and hotspots,” said Mosikili.

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“Restricted WhatsApp groups between governmental stakeholders and bus operators have been established to facilitate the sharing of updated information, potential threats, observations, and suspicious activities instantaneously.

“Improved communication has been critical to dispatching resources, issuing warnings of potential threats, directing police and law enforcement operations, and increasing police and law enforcement presence where required.”

Bus attack cases

Mosikili revealed that during the 2024/25 financial year, only one incident of malicious damage to property was reported on 9 April 2024 in Cradock in the Eastern Cape. A rock was thrown while the bus was in transit, and one passenger was injured. No arrests have been made.

Between 2021 and 2024, 76 attacks on Intercape buses were reported. Since then, 11 people have been arrested, 14 cases have been withdrawn from courts, and four cases are in court.

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Of the 76 cases, 33 were finalised as undetected, while 22 cases were pending investigation.

The police recorded 86 charges from these 76 cases, including one murder case, 22 attempted murders and 34 cases of intimidation, assault and common robbery.

The Western Cape reported 13 incidents between 23 February 2022 and August 2023; no further incidents have been reported since.

Gauteng reported four incidents between 15 April 2022 and 6 September 2020; no further incidents have been reported since.

The Eastern Cape recorded 15 attacks on Intercape buses between 13 July 2021 and 15 February 2023.

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